Why would owner remove the AC belt??

[ianreiddc]

I am a newbie that's in the process of looking for a sharp looking and solid 911. I have viewed a few online that have pictures of the engine missing the AC belt. What would cause a owner to remove the AC belt?

[RANDY P]

seized compressor....

[bell]

yep.....my comp was siezed when i bought it and the owner left the belt on, another sign of a siezed comp is belt "shavings/debris" in the corner of the engine bay.

[nostatic]

Be very careful with "conversion" cars too. You have to wonder about how well the aftermarket parts were hung, and what might have prompted the change (ie an accident).

[Chuck Moreland]

It may not be seized up. Removing the belt frees up a couple of HP. Reduced friction.

[don911]

I removed my AC belt to free up some HP. I didn't actually notice any more HP, but I was told it frees up some.

[grsilvia]

When I bought my 90 C2 last year, the A/C belt was missing. I replaced the belt and with a few ounces of freon the A/C works fine.

You may want to have the owner replace the belt to make sure the compressor isn't seized, if you find one you want to buy.

Gary

[89911]

Put one on and you'll know. It doesn't make a difference

[s2per]

One last consideration. I take my a/c belt off before I go to the track with my car...JUST IN CASE I lose the main fan belt. It happened once and I was glad the a/c belt was out of the way when installing (Ouch!) the new (Man that's hot!) fan belt. Saves quite a few minutes; important when you're running between your car and a student's!

[Wayne 962]

Removing the belt really doesn't free up any more HP. That's because the belt turning the compressor clutch when it's not on really doesn't use any energy. You might feel a slight difference, but I doubt that you would get more performance than simply removing the weight of your spare tire from the trunk...

-Wayne

[Lothar]

I bought a car earlier in the year that had the compressor belt removed. The PO told me that it was to free up HP. I knew damned well that the A/C just didn't work for whatever reason. I didn't care because I removed the whole damned mess two months later. The old compressor can't be rebuilt anymore anyway. I don't believe that removing the belt when the compressor is not engaged would make much of a difference in performance. However, removal of: compressor, evaporator, fan, condensors, dryer/receiver and all hoses made a hell of a difference in the form of about 150 lbs. of weight.

Granted, it depends on the intended use of he vehicle.

[deltajetfixer]

Originally posted by Lothar
. However, removal of: compressor, evaporator, fan, condensors, dryer/receiver and all hoses made a hell of a difference in the form of about 150 lbs. of weight.

Granted, it depends on the intended use of he vehicle.

I guess in your total weight savings you're also counting your 100 pound girlfriend/wife who won't ride in the now, hot car, anymore?

Interesting strategy...

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Driving the AC belt doesn´t need much power. If you engage the magnet clutch on the compressor you loose power.

Removing the belt from a non working system makes aminatince easier and lowers the risk that a neglet AC belt can crack and snap the fanbelt.

Also early 911 didn´t had a underpressure cout out device so you gould run the compressor even withot pressure and oil in the system.

Grüsse

[boyo]

My car had the A/C belt removed when I test drove it, the owner insisted it was for HP savings. When he delivered it, he'd installed a belt and the A/C actually worked! You never know.

-Boyo

[89911]

For even more AC information, on my car (89 coupe), the full open sensor in the throttle body shuts off the compressor on hard accelerator. I removed the compressor, hoses and top condensor in my car as will soon remove everything else.